All upcoming Philosophy & Religion programs

Discover the deep-rooted and multifaceted history of Jewish life in the nation’s capital during a tour of key landmarks and institutions led by Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours. Highlights of the day include visits to the Capital Jewish Museum; a guided walking tour of the 7th Street corridor, once a bustling center of Jewish-owned businesses; the historic Sixth & I Synagogue, one of the city’s oldest Jewish houses of worship; Arena Stage; and the Museum of American Jewish Military. And enjoy a stop for lunch at a classic Jewish deli.

Along with Jerusalem and Rome, Spain’s Camino de Santiago was one of the three great destinations of medieval Christendom. After centuries of decline and neglect, this ancient pilgrimage sprang to life again in the last quarter of the 20th century, drawing millions of visitors every year. George Greenia, professor emeritus of medieval studies at William & Mary, highlights the history of this road of faith and its continued popularity as a religious and secular quest for those seeking spiritual clarity.

The Renaissance is often linked to antiquity’s rediscovery, but art historian Liz Lev argues its roots lay in mendicant orders emphasizing the Gospel’s human elements. St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscans, embodied holiness that “went viral,” inspiring Giotto and Dante to reform art, highlighting the human condition with its quirks and heroic journeys. By weaving The Divine Comedy with frescoes in Assisi and Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel, Lev contends Renaissance art’s most compelling features arose from new spirituality rather than pagan revival. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Stoicism’s core teaching is that happiness arises from virtue, reason, and harmony with nature. Contrary to appearances, people do not react to events themselves but to their judgments about them. Stoics aim to recognize and refine these judgments, eliminating irrationality to live more wisely. Drawing from his book The Practicing Stoic: A Philosophical User’s Manual, Ward Farnsworth, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law, offers practical guidance for clearer perception, resilient living, and easing life’s burdens.

Thomas Aquinas transformed the Western intellectual tradition through his vast philosophical and theological work, especially the Summa theologiae. His vision has shaped thinkers and religious believers from his own era to today. Aquinas scholar Scott MacDonald explores some of the bold and perennially relevant ideas fundamental to Aquinas’ distinctively philosophical theology.

Contrary to his public persona as a purported scoundrel Frank Lloyd Wright was entrusted with commissions of more than a dozen churches and spiritual spaces for a wide range of religious groups, including Jewish, Protestant, Greek Orthodox, Unitarian, and other communities. Wright expert Timothy Totten illustrates the architect’s' beliefs about the way worshippers should interact with each other and their faith, as well as the ways he differentiated each space for its specific congregation.

From ancient times to the present scientists and philosophers have marveled at how such a seemingly abstract discipline as mathematics, which appears to have been a product of human thought, could so perfectly explain the natural world. In a fascinating presentation, astrophysicist Mario Livio explores why mathematics is a powerful lens through which to examine the cosmos.

The recent canonization of Carlo Acutis, who died in 2006 at age 15, demonstrates that the desire to venerate holy people is undimmed in the contemporary Catholic Church, says historian Kate E. Bush. She explores how saints have been made through the centuries, detailing how Catholicism moved from accepting saints by popular acclamation to papal canonization. Even today, though, the devotion of everyday people is the main ingredient needed to make a saint, Bush argues.

The picture-perfect snowcapped cone of Mount Fuji has attracted Japanese artists and pilgrims for more than a thousand years. Historian Justin M. Jacobs examines the history of human influences on this dormant volcano and its dynamic—and symbolic—role in Japanese history, including the elaborate network of Shinto and Buddhist shrines that that have drawn countless pilgrims from far away.

Cappadocia in central Turkiye is best known for its surreal landscapes of sculpted tuff, fairy chimneys, and ancient underground cities. But Cappadocia is more than just a natural marvel. Its valleys and rock-cut dwellings reveal a rich tapestry of history, from Hittite strongholds and Persian satrapies to Roman and Byzantine settlements to cave churches. Turkish tour guide Serif Yenen brings Cappadocia to life by weaving together its natural beauty, historical depth, and religious significance.